In Washington, Reuters reports that the Environmental Protection Agency went rogue on several occasions, providing full hardship waivers to small refineries when the Department of Energy recommended only partial waivers or none at all. The EPA has denied Freedom of Information Act requests regarding the process used to approve the waivers as until the Reuters […]
In Zambia, local press reports that Copperbelt Energy Corporation has begun engaging with soybean farmers in order to secure feedstock for its biofuel production facility. Most soy in the country is used for animal feed while in surplus years it exports. However, drought early this year negatively impacted yields, dropping production to about 320,000 metric […]
In Germany, a recent survey among commercial vehicle manufacturers shows that many trucks, buses and mobile machines are approved for higher blends of biodiesel. Even the latest Euro VI engines can be operated with standardized biodiesel blends of 20 percent, 30 percent (B20 or B30, standard EN 16709) and pure biodiesel (B100, standard EN 14214). […]
In Ireland, College Group will invest EUR10 million in building a new renewable energy facility producing biofuel from used cooking oil and animal fats in north Co. Meath. The investment is supported by the Irish government through Enterprise Ireland. The new 25 million liter purpose–built plant will be set on a 47.5 acre site and […]
In the UK, Imperial College scientists have enhanced the process of using biology to make products such as fuels, plastics, medicines, and cosmetics, breaking down plant-based biomass 30 times faster than currently possible. This could lead to cheaper and more environmentally friendly biofuel production and more efficient plastic recycling. Researchers modified the glucosidase enzyme, which […]
In India, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh has asked the central government to allow the use of sugarcane juice rather than molasses for ethanol feedstock as soon as possible to help reduce the repeat a giant sugar glut in the state next season. He says the deregulating the use of sugarcane for ethanol would […]
Biofuels for marine diesels — a biofuel developers dream? That’s the premise of his IEA webinar deck on the promise and progress in marine biofuels, a 330 Mton fuel market with both fuel technology in transition, and where anything that is carbon-based, liquid, stable and low in sulphur might work. This illuminating overview of the opportunities and […]
This July, industrial biotech returns to its largest and grandest stage at the BIO World Congress, which convenes in Philadelphia on July 16th through the 19th, and the plenary program brings CRISPR technology under the klieg lights and moves into the world of pret-a-porter — the biobased type— as the industry’s opportunities turn towards advanced […]
In Washington, EPA issued proposed volume requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard program for cellulosic biofuel, advanced biofuel, and total renewable fuel for calendar year 2019. EPA also proposed biomass-based diesel volume standards for calendar year 2020. Here are the proposed volumes: The EPA proposed the Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) for the biomass-based diesel category […]
In Washington, Senator John Barrasso (R-WY), chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works (EPW), issued the following statement on the forthcoming biofuel mandate for 2019. ‘I will carefully examine EPA’s proposed rule, especially its impact on small refineries,’ said Barrasso. ‘The law requires EPA to provide relief to any small refinery that […]
